The city of Boise is a welcoming community made up of a beautifully diverse population. For years, it has served as a safe harbor for refugees, not only as a destination on their long journey to find asylum, but also as a place to call home. The process of resettling in a new country is difficult and involves culture shock, learning a new language, and redefining your entire life.

The stories of the members of our community that have come here as refugees are important and deserve to be voiced. Whether they can tell their story in English, with the help of a translator, or in broken English, we are here to listen to their stories in their purest forms.

​The Agency for New Americans desperately needs your help to keep our doors open.​The anti-refugee climate of our current administration has caused drastic drops in financial support for organizations that provide support and resettlement for refugees. The lack of federal support as already caused one of Idaho’s refugee resettlement agencies to close

their doors. We do not want to be next. You can donate on our website or mail your contribution to ANA at Jannus, 1614 W. Jefferson Street, Boise, 83702.

According to Refugees Welcome, there are 60 million refugees throughout the world, and many more people will flee violence, persecution, and conflict in the coming years. Unfortunately, there are limits on the number of refugees allowed in particular cities, states, and countries.

The cap on foreign-born refugees in the U.S. was 45,000 in 2018, and the cap will dip to 30,000 in 2019, Reuters reports. But some U.S. states are already seeing a smaller influx of refugees following widespread regulations put in place in early 2017.

Everyone deserves to live in a place free from persecution, violence, and tyranny. Imagine how you would feel if the area where you live was in constant disarray. Wouldn't you want to have the chance for a better life?​Due to hazardous conditions and life-threatening situations in their homeland, they are forced to flee. America offers a safe and accepting environment for refugees to live a more comfortable life. However, America is a union of states, and some states are more apt to open their borders than others.

Since the presidential election of 2016, there have been significant cuts to the refugee admissions ceiling. This year, the administration seems inclined to continue this trend, likely lowering the limit to a historically low 25,000. With ongoing humanitarian crises all over the world, this is devastating news.

The administration’s intentions to limit immigrants coming into the United States seems to be based on xenophobia, with travel bans on most Middle Eastern countries, and enforcing strict immigration laws on the border with Mexico.

When Cheryl Buchta went to the post office two years ago, she encountered some people asking her to sign a petition to stop refugees from coming into Idaho. It was around the time there were terrorist attacks in Paris.

At that time, she didn’t know much about refugees, but she knew she had to do something. Later that day, she went home and Googled refugees in Boise and found the Agency for New Americans. She got in contact with the volunteer coordinator and started the process of becoming a volunteer.

There has been a lot of talk about refugees coming into the United States lately, but it can be hard to find out just how many. The numbers of incoming refugees in Idaho have seen significant reductions lately, going from 1,147 from 2015-2016 to just about half from 2016-2017. Still, with the recent reduction of refugees allowed in the country, Idaho takes in a significant number of refugees coming to the United States. Here is the breakdown of refugee arrivals in Idaho, according to the Idaho Office for Refugees.

Shafi and Ramisa are from Parwan, Afghanistan. They obtained a Visa to come to the United States in 2015 and were relocated to Boise. They have two daughters, Afsana, who is five years old, and Neda who is two.

They would like the Boise community know the following:​“The only thing that will help our community grow is learning from each other.”

I left my home due to security situation in the countryafter they breaked into our home and killed my dad along with my aunt at night.As everyone one fled into his own direction,I had no choice than to flee to Uganda bywalking at night, hiding by day.

​I arrived in Boise in September 1, 2016. The very first time I stepped on American soil in Houston where the plane dropped me, I was like "Oooh my God, am I the one or someone else"​I remembered how I escaped death and 10 years in the refugee camp.Then from the camp to America I was full of joy seeing how I no longer live in fear of being harmed.